Shark Rock Ridge (Berowra)

I’ve finally managed to get out to Berowra to explore Shark Rock Ridge, in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. An informal track goes to a large tessellated pavement, which is the site of both a virtual geo-cache and some Aboriginal engravings. (A second trip two years later continues along Shark Rock Ridge to Want Trig, with some amazing views at the end.)

Leaving my car at Berowra station, I cross the freeway and immediately turn left just in front of the National Park sign. A big thanks to Nathan (Solo Hiker) for explaining the initial route: it’s not shown on any maps and not obvious how you get to the start of of the Shark Rock Ridge track.

The track basically follows freeway, passing through an abandoned hobo camp that’s on the embankment above the freeway.

Just after the “hobo camp” there’s a nice overhang and a glimpse of Waratah Bay below.

The track then drops down to the edge of the freeway, just behind the safety barrier, before ascending another embankment. Then it descends again to the freeway: you can walk behind the safety barrier again, or walk just below the road along the embankment that consists of massive sandstone boulders.

Whichever way you take is depressing: as well as the constant traffic noise, there’s an incredible amount of rubbish and debris strewn along the side of the freeway. It’s a relief to reach the start of the Shark Rock Ridge track, which heads north-east along the ridge, away from the freeway.

There’s a few long and wide rock platforms just off the main track; none seem to have any Aboriginal engravings. Although we’re following the top of a ridge, the views aren’t great – but you can distant ridges to the north and south of the track.

About 1.2km from the start of the track is the first Aboriginal engraving site. There’s a very distinct stingray, and nearby a kangaroo rat that looks a bit like a rabbit. There’s numerous other engravings – some fairly obvious and a few I didn’t spot – including three emus, two wallabies and on another part of the rock figures of a man and a boomerang.

The track continues over many more sandstone platforms and interesting rock formations, with a number of cairns marking the trail where it’s not obvious.

Another kilometre and I reach an enormous tesselated rock platform, which is an impressive sight.

I explore the area: there are numerous Aboriginal engravings distributed around the rock platform. I can’t determine what all of the rock art depict, nor am I able to find all the engravings: there are at least 14 figures engraved in this area including four shields, two koalas, a bullroarer, a man, a fish and a bird.

In an odd juxtaposition of European and Aboriginal history, at the highest point of the platform on an outcrop of rocks is the remains of an old telegraph or telephone line. I’ve no idea where this would have gone – perhaps it serviced a house built in the late 1890s by George Rhodes & his wife Agnes Mary at Little Jerusalem Bay. This is also the site of a virtual geocache that was created in 2017.

I continue a bit further, as the track keeps going… from the end of Shark Rock Ridge you can continue straight ahead along Want Spur to Want Trig, or veer north-east along Pinta Spur to descend to Little Jerusalem Bay. The track is fairly distinct and marked by cairns for another kilometre, to a rocky ledge. To the north is Folly Spur. The track stops here, and the scrub is pretty thick, so for today this is far as I go.

I return the same way – I’ll return one day to complete the circuit, but I’ll need a full-day as it will be pretty slow-going once you’re off the track. I’ve enjoyed the walk, despite the dispiriting section along the rubbish-strewn freeway.

UPDATE – Beyond Shark Rock Ridge details the successful follow-up bushwalk, which continues along a rough walking pad to Want Trig.

0.0km Berowra station
0.1km Start of track along freeway (on southern side of freeway)
1.4km Start of Shark Rock Ridge track
2.7km First engraving site
3.7km Tesselated rock platform and main engraving site
4.7km End of Shark Rock Ridge track
9.2km Berowra station

More information on Shark Rock Ridge

• Solo Hiker – Shark Rock Ridge Trail

For more bushwalks (as well as swimming spots and other activities) visit the Guide to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.